Apparatus for treating hollow bodies



Jan. 11, 1949. J. GQGAN 2,458,587

APPARATUS FOR TREATING HOLLOW BODIES Filed Jan. 31, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheetl IN VEN TOR.

BY J'OSEPH GOG/4N Jan. 1 1949. r GOGAN 2,458,587

APPARATUS FOR TREATING HOLLOW BODIES Filed Jan. 31, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet2 HTTORNEyJ Jan. 11; 1949. i J. GOGAN 8, 87

APPARATUS FOR TREATING HOLLOW BODIES Filed Jan. 51, 1945 s Sheets-Sheets Ln; v INVENTOR. Q Jbfi'PH GOG/4N l1 BY firm/21mm Patented Jan. 11,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TREATING HOLLOW BODIESThis invention relates to apparatus for treating hollow metal bodies fortrueing or straightening the same and for cooling or quenching suchbodies when they are in a heated condition, and aims to provide improvedapparatus for this purpose which is relatively simple and compact inconstruction and which carries out the desired operation in veryeiiective and satisfactory manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of thischaracter, in which one or more groups of substantially radially movablesegments form a die for applying pressure to the body being treated andin which novel means is employed for actuating the segments.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improvedapparatus of this kind adapted to operate on a body while it is in aheated condition and in which provision is made for cooling the body bya flow of cooling medium while the body is held by the die.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improved apparatusfor straightening or trueing a hol ow body, such as an engine piston, bythe use of groups of die segments adapted to apply pressure to thepiston wall both internally and externally thereof and in which novelmeans is employed for actuating the groups of segments.

The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andparticularly set out in the claims hereof.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings,

Fig. l is a front elevational view, with portions broken away, showingarticle treating apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same apparatus and with portionsthereof broken away;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the apparatus with the article thereinshown in section;

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sec ional View of the apparatus taken online 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the connection between one ofthe pull rods and the segment actuating ring; and

Fig. 6 is another sectional detail view taken on line 6-45 of Fig. 4 andshowing tongue and slot gu ding means for the die segments.

The apparatus of the present invention can be used for the treatment ofvarious hollow bodies but is especially useful in the heat treating andsizing of cylindrical hollow metal bodies such as engine pistons. Thepresent embodiment of the apparatus is illustrated and described asbeing used for this purpose but it will be understood of course thatthis is not to be regarded as limiting 2 the scope of this invention tothis particular use.

Before proceeding with the detailed description of the apparatus I willdescribe briefly the article or body being treated and which is hereshown as an engine piston H1. The piston comprises a hollow body whichincludes the usual head H and cylindrical wall or sleeve l2. A wrist pinconnection is provided internally of the piston in the form of anintegral structure [3 depending from the head H and having a counterboreM to which further reference will later be made. The wall 12 is providedat axially spaced points with annular thickened portions I5 and IE towhich further reference will also be made hereinafter.

The embodiment of the apparatus shown in the drawings includes anupright frame or stand l8 having a substantially horizontal base plateor table l9 at the upper end thereof. The upper surface of this platesupports a die mechanism 20 which receives and operates upon individualpistons ID as will be explained in detail hereinafter. The apparatusalso includes a stationary upright hollow frame member or guide ring 2|in which the die mechanism 2!! is located. The lower end of the ring 2!is provided with a lateral flange 22 which seats on the plate 19 and isattached thereto by means of the screws 23.

The die mechanism 2!) comprises inner and outer annular groups ofelongated axially extending die segments 24 and 25 which receivetherebetween the cylindrical sleeve 12 of the piston I II. The segments24 and 25 are provided in suitable number, and in this instance; eachgroup comprises six segments. The segments 24 of the inner group form anexpansible die means which acts on the piston wall l2 interiorly thereofand the segments 25 of the outer group form a contractab e d e meanswhich acts on the piston wall externally thereof.

The internal segments 24 engage the piston wall l2 at the thickenedaxially spaced annular portions l5 and I6 thereof and; for this purpose,

each of the segments 24 is provided with corre sponding axially spacedarcuate external portions 2'! and 28. The arcuate portions 2! inaggregate form an annular pressure-app ying means which is engageablewith the inner periphery of the thickened portion if: of the pistonwall. Likewise, the arcuate portions 28 in aggregate form an annularpressure-applying means which is engageable with the inner periphery ofthe thickened portion E6. The inner segments 24 also engage the pistonID at a third point represented by the end and side faces of thecounterbore M. The upper ends of the segments 24 extend into thiscounterbore so as to form a. means for locating and centering the pistonin the die mechanism with the lower end of the piston wall I2 engagingor adjacent to the surface of the plate IS.

The outer segments 25 have arcuate work engaging surfaces 35 of atransverse curvature corresponding with the true curvature desired forthe outer surface of tthepistonwall I23 The arcuate v surfaces 3B-of the-outer segments in: aggregate form a pressure-applying sleeve orcylinder which is engageable with the external surface or periph t cryof the wall I2 throughout the-major. portion of the length of thepiston.

The piston IB is placed in the die mechanism 15 by lowering the sameinto the sleeve or hollow-diemember defined by the outer groupofisegments. and with the open lower end of the piston telescoping overand around the die member formed by the inner group of segments 24. Thehead ofi-th'episton: Ill mayabeaprovidedwith a suitable :lifting ring-oreye '31: for facilitating the operation iof moving the pistonarintooroutof the dieamechanism.

The innereandxouter :die segments 24 ancLZE are 25 supported bywtheplatatl91-and-ihave their lower ends in;sliding,-engagement, with a:flat bearing 32: which-isrecessed: into: the upper .surf ace ofthisplate;, During their ,expandingandcontracting movements the die.segments z l-and 25-are held in: the desired annulan arrangement and areguided for substantially -radial: movement by-* means of cooperatinginterfittingtongue andslot: elements 33-and .34 --provided respectivelyon the lower ends oflthersegments. andon the; flatbearingi32 Thednnergroup: ofsegments 24 is expanded by meansy of an axially movable plunger36 located inside'of: this groupof segments and carried byaniaotuatingn'od 37 which. is guided inlabushin 38oflthe-platel 9;. The:plunger 36 :carries axially 40 spaced supper and ilowerannularcgroupsrof-1sub stantially -flat bearing facesfiil-and- 39==whioh aretapered-or;'inciined'relative-to the axis: of the die mechanism;These-upper-and lowergroupscofu fiat bearinggfaces-38andi 39*slidinglyand wedge. ingly cooperate with corresponding spaced upper t' andlower-annular groupssof substantially, flat bearing-faces-MLand-Alprovided on.the segments 24 andwhich are also tapered orinclined.relative to the:-axis -of--the:die mechanism. Therbearing :1, faces and4 L are preferably;not formedldirectly on-the:segments 24- buton-hardenedbinserts 42 and 43. which= .are=mountedonthe-segments-ataxially spaced-Hpoints-and are attached to the segments.byv means. :ofsuitable screws 44.-

As. shownrinriEign fl "the. tapers oruinclinations. provided for-"thesubstantially flat =bearingiaces 38 and'39; of the-plunger 36=andthabearing .-faces 40 and 4| of the segments 24 are-such that= whenduring the application of pressure to the piston wall. The upper ends ofthe segments 24 apply expansive pressure to the annular side wall of thecounterbore M which likewise assists in maintaining the segments insubstantially parallel relation to each other.

The pressure which is applied internally to the wall l2 of the piston bythe segments 24 in the mannenjust described opposes and cooperates withthe pressure applied-externally by the outer segments 25 and result inthe piston being made toassume a true cylindrical shape. The pressureappliedto the side wall of the counterbore H! by; the segments 24 actsto properly locate the structure l3 with respect to the axis of thepiston. If the piston has been subjected to a previous heat.,treatment,,as.is usually the case, more or less warping or distortion may bepresent in the wall I2 and internal structure l3 and which distortion isremoved by the straightening pressure applied'by'the seg-ments24-and-25.- Ifthe piston is placed:in-the-die-mechanism Zfiwhile stillin a-heatedzcondition, the pressure of the inner and outer segments:Blend 25 can be. maintained.

during the cooling-of the piston so that when it hasbeenfullycooledit-will have a true and accurate shape-by reason of. the factthat it. has been'held to the true shape by the applied pressure duringthe -coolingioperation- Theoutersegments 25 are located in thestationanyuprightrringdI but are spaced therefrom by aniaxi-allymovableactuating ring or sleeve 48 w-hichlis disposed between this group ofsegments and anrannular guide surface 47 formed by the innen wall-orfacemof thestationary ring. The actuating ring;46--,is provided ataxially spaced pointswith. upper anddower. annulangroups ofsubstantially flat bearingsurfaces 48and which. are taperedorinclined'relativeto the axis of thedie mechanism. The outer segments25 are provided at corresponding-axially spaced points withupperandlowerannular groupsof substantially flat bearingsurfaces 5ll\and..5|v which. are also tapered or inclined relative: to. the axisofthe die mechanism. andrwith whichv the .bearingsuizfaces, 48 and. 49-of-the movable ring 146 islidingly andwedgingly cooperates The-bearingsurfaces 48 ,ands49 .are preferably formed on hardened inserts.52 and 53.,whichfare secured to-the ring 46 by means. of.appropriate.screws 54-.Likewise, the bearingsurfaces. Sif and 5! of. the segments 25 areformedonhardenediinserts, 55 and 56 which are securedto thesegmentsbymeans of appropriate screws. 57L

The tapers of the. annular groups of cooperating flatbearing surfaces48and .49, of the ring 46 and 50 and 5! of the segments 25 aresuchthatdownwardmovement of the. ring will cause the segments25'.tolbe...wedged inwardly or contracted the-plunger; is. moveddownwardly thegroup of sothattheir arcuate inner surfaces 30 will .applybear-ingifaces 38.and 39 thereof|.will exert'anwouta ward .wedging.actiomagainst the bearing. faces. 40 and of, the.segments,-24 tendingtoexpand. the latter. inthehhollow body..of the, pistonrlflfl. Thisexpansionof the segments 24-by the plunger; 3&.causes.the.portions .21.and ZBAtoEapply .expana sive pressure .to the innerperipheriesofthethick.- ened;.annular portions l5l-andelfi of the piston wall...

Since thethickenedportions. I Bland. .l 6 of. the pistonare spaced apartaxially of thedie. mechanism it .wilLbe seenthattengagement of the.seg.-ments 24=wi-th.--the-;work at theseaxiallyspacedi points will cause-thesegments .to be maintained in substantiallyvparallel relatiomwith eachother-% inward pressureto-the .outer periphery of the wall I 2 ,ofthe..piston.. As indicated above, this pressure applied by the segments25 opposes and co operates with the pressure applied by the innersegments. andresults in the wall of the piston being .shapedandheld to atrue and accurate cylindrical form.

For ,actuatingthe inner and outer groups of segmentsh24 and25 by theplunger 36 and the ringi45 respectively in the manner above de scribed,.the apparatus is provided witha suitable power device which. isoperably connected with.

the plunger and ring, In this instance. the power device is-in theformlofl a double-acting cylinder 60 which isslocated intheestand: l 8land is con nected with the underside of the plate ill by means of theopen bracket 6!. A piston 63 slidable in the cylinder is carried by anactuating rod 64 which projects from the lower end of the cylinder andis connected with a lower yoke 65. This lower yoke is connected, bymeans of a pair of spaced rods 66, with an upper yoke which extendsthrough the bracket 6|.

The plunger 36 and the actuatin ring 46 are both connected with theupperyoke 61. The lower end of the actuating ring 46 can be connectedwith the yoke 61 by means of, spacedpairs of pull rods 68 whose upperends extend through guide bushings 69 located in the plate l9 and areconnected with the actuating ring as shown in Fig. 5. The actuating rod31 of the plunger 36 has a shou der 10 thereon which engages the upperside of the yoke 61 and a reduced stem H which extends through the yokeand carries a compression spring 12. The stem H and the spring 12provide a yieldable actuatin connection for the plunger 36 so that somerelative actuating movement can take place between the plunger and thering 46 during the straightening or sizing operation being performed onthe piston ill. The spring 12 also provides means by which the pressuresbeing applied by the inner and outer groups of segments 2:3 and 25 willbe substantially equalized thus enabling both groups of segments toexert the full amount of pressure which they are intended to apply tothe piston.

The cylindertll. is. provided with connections M and 15 adjacent itsopposite ends and through which compressed air, or other suitable motivefluid, can be supplied. During the downward power stroke of the piston63 the plunger 36 and actuating ring 46 are moved downwardly to therebyexpand and contract the inner and outer groups of segments 24 and 25respectively. During the upward power stroke of the piston the plungerand actuating ring are lifted so as to permit retraction of the innerand outer groups of segments relative to the workpiece Ill. The segments24 of the inner group are retracted by being moved toward each other asby means of the annular springs 16, H and 18 extending around thesesegments. The segments 25 of the outer group are retracted by beingmoved away from each other and outwardly relative to the workpiece In.

For retracting the segments 25 of the outer group each segment isprovided with a stud 80 which projects substantially radially outwardlytherefrom so as to slidably extend through an opening ill of the guidering 2! and carries a compression spring 82. At points correspondingwith the location of the studs 80 the actuating ring 46 is provided withaxial slots 83 through which the studs extend and which permit axialshifting of the actuating ring. The springs 82 acting against nuts 84provided on the outer ends of the studs 80 cause the segments 25 to beshifted outwardly or retracted when the actuating ring 46 is lifted.

As mentioned above, the piston Ill may be in a heated condition when itis placed in the die mechanism 20 and, as a part of the treatment givento the piston, it may be desirable to cool or quench the same while itis being subjected to the trueing or straightening pressure. To permitthe circulation of cooling medium in or through the die mechanism, theouter segments are preferab y of a hollow construction so as to providea cooling chamber 86 therein to which water or other appropriate coolingmedium can be supplied. The cooling medium can be supplied to thesegments 25 through tubes or pipes 81 which are connected with the upperends of the segments and communicate with the chamber 85. The lower endsof the segments 25 have openings or passages 88 therein which lead fromthe cooling chambers and register with delivery openings 89 extendingthrough the flat bearing 32 and the plate it, The cooling mediumsupplied by the tubes 87 passes downwardly through the segments 25 andis discharged therefrom through the openings 89.

-The cooling medium is also supplied to the piston ill internallythereof and for this purpose the plunger 35 and the actuating rod 31have an axial passage 90 therein and through which the cooling medium issupplied so as to be discharged or sprayed upwardly against theunderside of the head of thepiston. This sprayed cooling medium isspread or distributed laterally onto substantially all portions of thestructure l3 and the inner surface of the wall l2. The cooling medium issupplied to the lower end of the passage 80 at a suitable point belowthe plate E9, as by means of the pipe connection 9!. To permit theescape of the cooling medium from the interior of the piston, theannular portions 2 and 28 of the segments 24 are provided respectivelywith axially extending passages 92 and 93. Discharge openings 9.4extending through the flat bearing 32 and the pate l9 receive thecooling medium from the passages 93 and permit it to flow freely out ofthe die mechanism.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a suitable tank or hood 96 may be providedfor collecting the cooling medium which is discharged from the diemechanism through the openings 89 and 94. The tank 96 is here shown asbeing of a size such that the apparatus can be located therein with thelower end of the stand 18 resting on the bottom of the tank.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will nowbe readily understood that the present invention provides improvedtreating apparatus by which engine pistons, or various other hollowbodies, can be effectively subjected to trueing and straighteningpressures and can also be cooled or quenched while such pressures arebeing maintained. It will be seen, moreover, that the present apparatusis simple and compact and acts in a positive and direct manner on thearticle being treated. It will be seen, moveover, that the die mechanismutilizes inner and outer groups of seg ments and is of a constructionsuch that the pis tons can be easily and qu ckly inserted into orremoved from the mechanism.

While I have illustrated and described the improved article treatingapparatus of this invention in considerable detail, it will beunderstood of course that the invention is not to be regarded as beingcorrespondingly limited in scope but in.- cludes all changes andmodifications coming within the spirit of the invention and the scope ofthe claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a base plate, a guide ringfixed to said base plate on one side thereof with its axis extendingsubstantially normal thereto, an annular group of segments defining acontractible hollow die located within and extending substantiallycoaxially of said guide ring, said segments being movable substantiallyradially of said guide ring and being slidably supported on said baseplate, an ac tuatingiring disposed'between said segments and guide ringand being axially slidablefin the latter, said'actuating ring'andsegments having cooperating tapered thrust portions-forcausing-contraction of'the die in response to axial-movem'ent-of theactuating ring, a power device located on the other side of said baseplate, means extending through said-base plate and operablyconnectingthe power device with said actuating ring for transmittingthrust'to the latter, the tapered thrustjpor'tions of said segmentsbeing spaced apart axially of the hollow die and being located adjacentthe ends of the segments, and 'spring actuated "dieexpanding'meansengaging said segments at a point betweenthetapered'thrustportions thereof and'acting on the segmentsto constantlyhold their'tapered thrust portions in engagement with the tapered thrustportions of'sai-d actuating ring.

2. In apparatus of thec'haracter described, a base plate, a guide ringfixed to said base plate on one side thereof with "its axis extendingsubstantially normal thereto, an annular group of segments defining acontractible hollow 'die located within and extending substantially-coaxially of said guide ring, said segments being movable substantiallyradially of said guide'ring and being slidably supported on 'sai'dibaseplate, an actuating ring disposed between said segments and guide ringand being axially slidable in the latter, said actuating ring "andsegments having cooperating tapered thrust portions for causingcontraction 0f the die in response to axial movement of the actuatingring, a power'deviceloc'ated on the other side of said base plate,rmeans extending through said base plate'and-operably con- 8necting'thepow'ier device withsaid actuating ring for transmittingthrust to the latter, said actuating ring having axial slots thereinadjacent the respective diesegments, rods connected with said segmentsand extending outwardly through said slots and through said guide ring,and segment retracting springs acting on said rods.

JOSEPH GOGAN.

R-EFERENCES CITED The "following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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